Date First Published: 30th July 2023
Topic: Computer Systems
Subtopic: Computer Software
Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions
Difficulty: MediumDifficulty Level: 5/10
Learn about what MOV is in this article.
MOV is a video format that was designed for use with Apple QuickTime software, but can be played using other compatible video software or programs. Since this format was specifically developed by Apple, compatibility with other media players can be poor. It is saved in the QuickTime file format (QTFF).
MOV files can be played by different media players. Windows and MacOS come with a built-in media player, including Microsoft Windows Media Player and Apple QuickTime. AVI files can also be opened with other media players, including VLC Media Player and Adobe Premiere Pro, which are compatible with both Windows and macOS.
Since the system media player on Android does not support MOV files, a third-party app will need to be downloaded and installed to play it. If on a phone or tablet, MOV files can be played with VLC for Android and J2 Interactive MX Player (Android). MOV files are supported by the system media player on iOS devices, but the files have to be in the right codecs.
MOV files can also be converted to other formats. For example, VLC Media Player can convert MOV files to MP4, WEBM, TS, and ASF. Since MOV is similar to MP4, it can be converted to MP4 without re-encoding the video.
The MOV and MP4 formats are very similar, but the main difference between these two formats is that MOV is a format developed by Apple and MP4 is an international standard that is overall more commonly used. Since MP4 files are compatible with more devices, it is the preferred format for social media platforms and streaming protocols. Some platforms may convert to MP4 before uploading.
Also, MOV files are usually less compressed and larger in size than MP4 files. Since MOV files are larger, but better quality, they are more commonly used in video editing and not used as much in streaming or uploading to social media.
The QTFF format was introduced by Apple in 1991 to support different media types and support multimedia transfer between various devices, applications, and operating systems. Over the years, it has grown to be one of the most widely used video formats, along with MP4, WMV, and AVI.
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